All the seven provincial governments on Friday presented their annual budgets for the fiscal year 2018-19 with a combined spending plan of Rs206.77 billion.

The provinces tabled their first ever fiscal plans in the federal set-up, heavily dependent on grants from the Centre.

Province 1 and 3 presented the largest budgets, each totalling around Rs36 billion, followed by Province 2 with estimates worth around Rs30 billion. Provinces 5 and Karnali Province have figures around Rs28 billion, followed by Rs25 billion of Province 7. Province 4 has the smallest budget of Rs24 billion.

Province 1 has received the largest chunk of budget in fiscal equalisation and conditional grants, followed by Province 3. Province 4 received the lowest amount of grant from the federal government as it unveiled its fiscal estimates two weeks ago.

Most of the provinces have set aside funds for constituency development programme, following pressure from lawmakers who cited the practice retained by the central government.

In Province 1, the estimates presented by Minister for Economic Affairs and Planning Indra Bahadur Aangbo prioritise generating 1,500 megawatt electricity in the next five years. The document encourages people to cultivate land while trying to end fragmentation of fields. The provincial government has earmarked Rs1.12 billion for the constituency development programme in which each lawmaker will get Rs20 million. The province has 56 constituencies.

In Province 2, Minister for Economic Affairs and Planning Bijaya Yadav allocated resources for local governments ranging from Rs5 million to Rs30 million in conditional grants. For the constituency development programme, Rs587.5 million has been allocated.

Economic Affairs and Planning Minister of Province 3 Kailash Prasad Dhungel has allocated resources for feasibility study of the Posta Bahadur Bogati Bhimphedi-Kulekhani Tunnel Road and the Pushpalal provincial Ring Road connecting all the districts. The provincial government said that it has allocated budget for preparing detailed project reports of 100 infrastructure schemes to create their bank.

In Province 4, Minister for Economic Affairs and Planning Kiran Gurung has prioritised roads connecting each ward. A sum of Rs2.06 billion has been allocated for the purpose. The budget prioritises tourism, energy, agriculture, industry and ‘social infrastructure’.

In Karnali Province, Minister for Economic Affairs and Planning Prakash Jawala has allocated Rs50 million for each lawmaker under the People’s Road Programme.

In Province 7, the budget presented by Minister for Economic Affairs and Planning Jhapat Bahadur Bohora prioritises infrastructure development, agriculture and tourism. It has programmes aimed at helping out poor populations and full utilisation of the agricultural land.